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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 40
Chapter Title: Side Path
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On a weekend morning, Yeon-joo, dressed in a pair of jeans for a change, left her house with a light step. She wore sneakers she didn't usually wear and pulled a cap down low, walking straight down the alley.
‘What are you doing this weekend?’
‘Why do you ask?’
‘Why do you think I asked?’
He had become so strange. His answers to her questions defied common sense, leaving her flustered every time.
She thought she knew the answer, but she didn't want to say it out loud. She didn't want to think about why he'd reversed his stance overnight, nor did she want to get caught up in his impulsive actions.
‘It was good this morning. You liked it too, and now you're pretending you didn't.’
She stopped walking abruptly. She was going crazy trying to remember what her expression had been in that moment, that morning—she'd been too shocked to control it.
What kind of face did I make? Did I really like it? Was it that obvious?
“No. I don't think I was that obvious…”
She muttered to herself, then her eyes widened in alarm. Standing on the street, replaying a morning kiss in her mind, made her face flush.
But her hand involuntarily went to her lips. As she pressed down gently, it felt as if the sensation from that moment was reawakening, and her eyes closed on their own.
After their breakup, there had been a long, long period of absence. Enough time had passed to forget the look in his eyes, the sound of his voice.
She had seen him through various media, half by choice and half not, so his face and voice were still vivid, but she'd thought physical touch would be a different matter.
But the moment their lips touched, all her senses had awakened with astonishing clarity to welcome him. The thrill and emotion that surged through her in an instant were so shockingly familiar that her mind went blank.
His tongue hadn't entered her mouth, so it couldn't be called a perfect kiss, but the mere touch of his lips was enough to turn her world upside down and back again. There was nothing unfamiliar about his lips; in that moment, she had become the twenty-three-year-old Go Yeon-joo once more.
“I'm crazy. What am I doing right now?”
After imagining it with her eyes closed, Yeon-joo opened them. It was still early, so the alley was empty, but standing there fantasizing about a kiss with her ex-boyfriend was becoming quite a spectacle.
Ugh…
“Ah, this isn't the time for this. I need to get going.”
Forcefully shaking off the lingering thoughts, Yeon-joo quickened her pace. The reason she was hurrying out so early on a weekend morning was because of her appointment with Dr. Joo.
She had promised him her time this weekend long ago, and she didn't want to go back on her word now.
‘What are you doing this weekend?’
‘Why do you ask?’
‘Why do you think I asked?’
‘I have plans. I'm meeting with Dr. Joo.’
She had given Eun-seong a petty answer. It wasn't a lie, but she had added an unnecessary detail, drawing a line to show she had no time.
…She was becoming more disadvantaged, more petty, and more cruel.
“Yeon-joo-ssi!”
“Ah! Seonsaengnim!”
Dr. Joo, who was waiting for her in front of the animal hospital, waved and called out to her, and Yeon-joo responded.
“Seonsaengnim. Have you been waiting long?”
“No, I just got here. You're dressed comfortably.”
“Yes. You told me to wear something comfortable.”
“You keep your promises and listen well. How lovely.”
Dr. Joo's sudden compliment made Yeon-joo blush faintly and smile.
“Seonsaengnim, where are we going?”
“You'll see when we get there. I wanted to make a good impression on you, so I've rounded up a lot of my friends.”
Seeing the trunk piled high with dog food, Yeon-joo couldn't help but burst out laughing.
“Looks like your friends are in for a feast today.”
“Just because my friends are eating enthusiastically, you can't join in. Understood?”
“Yes, I'll keep that in mind.”
Getting into the car, Yeon-joo pulled on her seatbelt. The song playing just then was the main OST from a movie starring Eun-seong.
“Well then, let's get going.”
“Yes, Seonsaengnim.”
She took a deep breath, slowly closing and opening her eyes. Oblivious to her inner turmoil, Dr. Joo, at the wheel, smiled.
“I don't know the title, but it's a nice song. It seems to fit the weather perfectly.”
“Yes, Seonsaengnim. It's a very nice song.”
Her mind was spinning with thoughts of him.
‘I have plans. I'm meeting with Dr. Joo.’
‘Then come after. I'll wait.’
‘Wait? Where would you wait for me, Baeunim?’
‘Well, somewhere.’
…There are fates that can never meet, no matter what one does.
For instance, you and I are like spring and autumn. A bond of seasons.
Seasons that can never meet, no matter how hard they try.
‘Don't say such ridiculous things. I don't know where you plan on waiting, but don't waste your time.’
‘I'll wait. Have a good weekend date with Dr. Joo.’
A dazzlingly beautiful time, a fleeting season one desperately wishes to reach.
It's right for us to stop there.
*
Side Path
Hae-yeong, busy as ever even on the weekend, visited the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in the morning.
It was the day of a special exhibition for the artist Han Nam-gil, with whom she was acquainted. The exhibition hall, not yet open to the public, was bustling with final preparations.
She had arrived early, as Mr. Han Nam-gil had requested she come before the opening. After meeting with the organizers to offer her congratulations and flowers, Hae-yeong stood before an unrevealed piece. As she was looking around alone, she heard someone approach and turned.
“Oh my, Eun-seong-ssi.”
It was none other than Eun-seong.
Hae-yeong's face lit up at the unexpected encounter, and Eun-seong greeted her in return. Hae-yeong approached him and added.
“Looks like you were summoned early this morning too, Eun-seong-ssi.”
“He somehow knew my schedule was free and pestered me to come this morning.”
“Yes, yes. Mr. Han must have been thrilled you came. Since you're here, you'll look around, won't you?”
Hae-yeong stepped aside, inviting him to look with her, and Eun-seong moved to stand beside her.
They carefully examined each piece, each one rich with the creator's worldview and values. The two moved past the artworks at a similar pace. After a period of silent concentration, Hae-yeong suddenly spoke.
“You must have been surprised that Ju-mi suddenly quit.”
“Well, it’s a common occurrence, so I didn't think much of it. I heard she had personal reasons.”
“‘Personal reasons’ was just a considerate public excuse for Ju-mi. The truth is, I fired her.”
As she stated the fact in a level voice, Eun-seong looked at her.
“You fired her, Isanim?”
“Yes. Do you know why Ju-mi joined our team, Eun-seong-ssi?”
“I thought Hyang-mi sent her to be my dedicated staff.”
“No. CEO Min Tae-gon sent her.”
Eun-seong looked like he was having trouble understanding. A moment later, when Hae-yeong moved to the next piece, he followed her silently.
“It was around the first day of filming for the movie. The CEO told me he had someone he wanted to place on the team and that I should get rid of one of my own people. I couldn't let go of my staff, so we settled on adding a new member. That's how Ju-mi came to us.”
“…”
“But as time went on, it felt… strange. Doesn't Team Leader Hyang-mi handle you exclusively? If the goal was dedicated support, wouldn't she have come instead of Ju-mi?”
Eun-seong remained silent, not wanting to interrupt Hae-yeong.
“Why would someone named Ju-mi, who gets her paycheck from Yeonildam, work with Changrok? Was she more competent than Team Leader Hyang-mi? Or was it because she was tight-lipped and discreet? What do you think? Why, for what reason, did the CEO of Yeonildam place Jeong Ju-mi by your side?”
“…”
“I think that girl came to Changrok because she has no manners. No manners, talks too much, is aggressive, and picks fights.”
Hmm. Hae-yeong tilted her head and moved to the next piece. Again, Eun-seong followed her silently.
As if her mouth and eyes were working independently, Hae-yeong continued speaking while her gaze remained fixed on the painting.
“So, what was the purpose of this girl who came to Changrok because she had no manners? What benefit did CEO Min Tae-gon expect by deliberately, deliberately sending someone so thoughtless to our team? I've been fixated on this since yesterday.”
“So, have you found the reason?”
“Well. I suppose I'm still too naive to grasp CEO Min's grand design.”
“Then why are you telling me this?”
“I wonder. Why is that?”
At the end of her sentence, Hae-yeong looked at Eun-seong. 'I don't know either,' her expression seemed to say as she shrugged. Eun-seong tilted his head.
This was a sensitive matter, involving the CEO of his own agency. Moreover, he couldn't shake the feeling that Yeon-joo was somehow involved, which put him on edge.
Eun-seong gave a faint smile.
“It's common for an agency to provide individual staff. I don't know about Changrok, but it happens often at Yeonildam. Especially in my case.”
“Yes, I know. That's why I found it strange that Team Leader Hyang-mi didn't come.”
“Hyang-mi is busy.”
“Busy enough to set aside your work? I met her yesterday, and she said she's been quite free lately.”
“…”
Jin Hae-yeong clearly had something she wanted to say. Something she wouldn't voice, something she wouldn't answer even if asked.
But he didn't want to answer these twenty-questions-like queries one by one. Nor did he want to be the first to pry, peering into buried circumstances.
The names Tae-gon and Yeon-joo just kept spinning in his head. Needing time to sort his thoughts, Eun-seong moved on to the next piece first.
“I didn't realize you were the type to voice baseless speculations, Director Jin. I'm disappointed.”
“Try to see it in a positive light. Maybe it's a suggestion that we find the reason together?”
As Hae-yeong followed and spoke, Eun-seong stopped in his tracks. With nowhere else to look, he fixed his gaze on the artwork.
「Title: Side Path」
A boy stood at a crossroads where several paths branched off from a main road, and far in the distance, a girl stood waiting for him. The paths were so tangled and winding that one could feel the boy's confusion, his uncertainty about which way to go to meet the girl.
At the very edge, beyond the boy's line of sight, was a single narrow path that stretched out perfectly straight. If he failed to notice it due to his narrow view, the boy would surely struggle for his entire journey.
They stood there for a long time, gazing at it, before Hae-yeong asked.
“Eun-seong-ssi. That person you said you thought of when you saw the marshmallow.”
As Hae-yeong suddenly posed the question, Eun-seong, who had been staring distantly at the painting, let out a deep breath. He remained silent, as if waiting for her to continue, and Hae-yeong added.
“When did you meet her?”
“A long time ago. It was in college.”
“Ah, your college days.”
“Why the sudden question?”
“Just because. Looking at that boy reminded me of your story. I was wondering if you, too, were lost like that in the middle of a road.”
“If anyone knew how to become an adult without ever getting lost, the world wouldn't be in this state.”
For a long while, neither of them could take their eyes off the painting.
Could the boy meet the girl if he abandoned the prejudice that the widest road is the right one? Would he have the courage to turn back when he realized he was on the wrong path?
Did they meet? Or did their paths diverge?
Hae-yeong asked.
“Their paths diverged, didn't they?”
Eun-seong answered.
“They must have met.”
